Top 10 stories of 2005

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published
1:00 am EST, Sunday, January 1, 2006

Every year starts with a clean slate, only to be filled with surprises. Some of the news is undeniably bad. Some is hopeful. Looking back gives a sense of how we all have grown and coped, and a hint of what might in store for us in the coming year. Here is a list of some of the stories that The News-Times covered in 2005. The report was compiled by Eugene Driscoll, Fred Lucas, Mark Langlois, Eileen FitzGerald, Marietta Homayonpour, Karen Ali, Robert Miller, Brian Saxton, and John Pirro.

If anything, 2005 marked a tipping point in Danbury. The city, long known for its ethnic diversity, started to show signs of stress.

Although Boughton had asked federal officials to do something about the influx of illegal immigrants to the city, April saw the issue come to a boiling point.

First, Boughton issued a press release requesting that state police be deputized as immigration agents. City services such as the police department and social service agencies were strained because of illegal immigrants from central and south America, the mayor said.

The request immediately raised the eyebrows of the Connecticut
American Civil Liberties Union
, which worried the action would paint anyone who looked Hispanic "illegal."

Statements made in the meeting offended some long-time immigrant activists.

At the same time, leaders at the
Ecuadorian Civic Center
worried that a law under consideration - designed, city officials first said, to crack down on neighborhood volleyball games - was unfairly targeting members of the Ecuadorian community.

They planned a downtown march that fueled fears of leftist and right-wing "outside agitators" coming to Danbury to start fights and destroy property.

It didn't happen. June's "unity march" had some 1,200 participants - and it was more a celebration than protest.

Boughton's request to deputize state police ultimately went nowhere, while the Immigration Control group broke away from its founder.

Meanwhile, the media came to town, making Danbury the poster child for the nation's poor immigration policy.

The non-stop media exposure, meanwhile, caused other municipal leaders to pick up the phone and call Boughton.

"What's happening here is happening everywhere," Boughton said.

No. 2

Feds raid Galante's AWD trash hauling business

After answering questions from federal agents last fall,
Cheryl Reedy
, head of the regional trash agency, explained how important the garbage recycling and transfer site on 307 White St. is to the region.

"We just can't get by without out it," said Reedy, the executive director of the 11-town
Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority
. "It's not like there are other alternatives. The Newtown and Ridgefield stations are not equipped to handle what goes into the Danbury station."

The transfer station on White Street, home of
James "Jimmy" Galante
's garbage empire, is where 80 percent of the garbage and all of the recyclable materials in the Danbury region end up.

The station was raided in July by
FBI and Internal Revenue Service
agents who sought financial documents, tax records, cash and any evidence of an "illegal enterprise," according to the search warrant. Investigators also raided other trash hauling businesses.

Galante has maintained his innocence. He believes he is being unfairly targeted because of a 1999 conviction on a tax evasion charge. He declined to comment for this story.

The grand jury is reportedly seeking evidence of price fixing, intimidation and conspiracy in the waste collection industry, though the U.S. attorney's office has remained mum on specifics.

Reedy said agents asked her about intimidation of smaller competitors and about consolidation in the industry. Federal investigators raided Putnam County, N.Y., government offices in connection with the trash probe. Meanwhile, state Attorney General
Richard Blumenthal
said he is investigating potential violations of anti-trust laws in the trash industry.

Galante owns at least 16 different garbage hauling companies, many of which he obtained after buying out smaller competitors.

Unfortunately, Reedy said, the presence of the investigation only adds to an unfair perception of the garbage industry.

"It isn't the publicity the industry likes and it isn't the publicity HRRA likes to see," Reedy said. "We have worked hard to provide a level playing field for very small companies and large haulers. I would hate for people to think the whole garbage industry is corrupt, because that's just not the case."

No. 3

An allegedly drunken pilot steals a plane from Danbury airport, setting off a debate about airport security

DANBURY - Someone steals an airplane from
Danbury Municipal Airport
and lands several hours later, without authorization, at the airport in Westchester County, N.Y. Beer cans allegedly spill out of the plane when police open the door.

Seems pretty straight-forward, especially in light of how airplanes were used in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But it turns out things aren't so simple.

When
Philippe Patricio
allegedly stole the plane on June 22, people reacted with terrorism-fueled fear.

Westchester County officials talked about homeland security, Connecticut ordered checks of all airports, and the city ordered its own inspection at Danbury Municipal Airport.

Patricio, who was 20 at the time of the incident, has been in jail ever since. His bail is set at $250,000. Two teenagers who flew with him were sentenced to community service.

Patricio's lawyer hopes his client's punishment will eventually be limited to serving in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Others, including the judge in the case, think he will spend time in prison if convicted.

Patricio's defense lawyer,
Edwin Camacho
, implied that Westchester County District Attorney
Jeanine Pirro
is using the case for political motives. Pirro had been running against
Hillary Clinton
for the
U.S. Senate
, but has since switched to running for New York Attorney General.

Pirro said that isn't the case. In a statement she said, "when an airplane can be stolen as easily without detection and flown over a populated area, jeopardizing not only the two passengers but also a whole community, there is a great cause for concern."

If convicted of all the charges, Patricio could receive up to seven years in state prison.

Camacho said his client is in a very low mood. "He's locked down most of the day and he wants to put this whole thing behind him."

If Patricio does post bond, he will have to answer charges in Danbury, where a judge would very likely set another bail amount. That would mean Patricio would have to go back to prison and post another bond to remain free.

Conductor Skitch Henderson of New Milford and playwright Arthur Miller of Roxbury were contemporaries and neighbors. They translated their inspiration from the local countryside into music and writing that touched the world.

Henderson began as a teenager building a Grammy-award winning career as a pianist, conductor and arranger, before his sudden death of heart failure Nov. 1 at his New Milford home. He was two months shy of his 88th birthday.

Miller won the Pulitzer Prize when he was 33 for "Death of Salesman" and became one of America's greatest playwrights in a career that spanned six decades. He died Feb. 10 of heart failure at his Roxbury home at 89.

On Labor Day, Henderson and his Legends jazz group performed at Tanglewood in Massachusetts at its annual jazz weekend.

Miller, who suffered from cancer, saw a revival of his play "After the Fall" and the premier of "Finishing the Picture."

The two built careers on strong foundations in their industry.

Henderson's career took root when he was a teenager playing the piano in road houses in the Midwest. He accompanied singers like Frank Sinatra, conducted orchestras around the world and founded The New York Pops Orchestra in 1983.

Historian Dwight Bowers called Henderson a bridge in American culture between pop and classical forms of music.

Miller's first play to be produced on Broadway was "All my Sons" in 1947. Two years later, he wrote his masterpiece, "Death of a Salesman" at his Roxbury home and followed it with other acclaimed works that included "The Crucible" and "The Price."

Upon his death, New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson said "Miller has looked with compassion into the hearts of some ordinary Americans and quietly transferred their hope and anguish to the theater." Theaters on Broadway darkened in tribute to him.

Both Henderson and Miller preserved some of the farmland they owned in Litchfield County, their rural retreats. Despite their comfort with black ties and international stages, the two fit seamlessly into the local landscape.

Henderson led carol sings for years on the New Milford green and knew and used the names of the clerks in his local hardware store. Miller was a regular in his town's general store and like Henderson, found ways to support initiatives in his community.

Miller's wife, photographer Inge Morath, and their daughter, Rebecca, a painter then, shared an exhibit at the Henderson's Silo Gallery in the 1980s.

"Arthur and Skitch bonded over tractors and famland and preservation, besides having a professional respect for each other," aid Ruth Henderson, Henderson's wife for 47 years. "The most important things were blue jeans and coveralls and the viscosity of the oil to keep their machines at top level. Those conversations could be rather lengthy and one knew not to interrupt."

"We're appealing it. We're going to court and we're going to make it."

Hoffmann, 55 and a resident of Danbury, is a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. She was talking about the decision by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs on Oct. 12 to deny federal recognition to the tribe.

That decision, said Hoffmann who is a mother and grandmother, hasn't effected her and her family because she believes the tribal nation will eventually win recognition by the federal government.

"We are going to reverse the decision," Hoffmann said.

Federal recognition would have resulted in federal housing, education and medical benefits for the tribe - and to another casino in the state.

Although the decision was a blow to the tribal nation's 300 members, it was good news for state and city and town leaders in the region who argued that a casino would increase traffic and crime.

Schaghticoke leaders did not deny that they would build a casino, but they said recognition was more important for the tribal history it would preserve.

"It's not about gaming," Hoffmann said. "It's about education for the kids, senior housing medical assistance. I'm concerned about the elders."

Many tribal members, including Hoffmann, said that "no one wants to hear our side." They argued that extreme political pressure from government leaders caused the
BIA
to reject the tribal nation's bid for recognition.

But the BIA said the tribal nation did not meet the criteria for recognition, including the required marriage rate among Schaghticokes and a recognized ruling body over several decades.

The recognition battle goes back several years. A preliminary decision by the BIA in 2002 rejected the tribal nation's petition but in January of 2004 the agency changed course and did recognize the tribe.

That decision was appealed by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and in May the U.S. Department of the Interior's Board of Indian Appeals asked the BIA to reconsider its decision. That new decision was the one handed down by the BIA on Oct. 12.

"I think the federal government is wrong," Hoffmann said. "We are Native Americans. How can you give one decision and then another?"

No. 6

Dozens of same-sex couples in the Danbury area enter civil unions.

In many ways, the lives of
Lois D'Imperio
and
Holly Robinson
haven't changed much since they exchanged vows in a civil union ceremony Oct. 1. That was the day a state law went into effect giving same-sex couples more rights.

As of Oct. 1, people who enter into a civil union have the same rights as married couples when it comes to hospital visitation, state public assistance benefits, court hearings, and family leave benefits, among other things. Civil unions aren't recognized under federal law, and so some things will be more complicated for D'Imperio and Robinson.

Robinson, 29, a real estate lawyer in Norwalk, said that they will have to hire a good accountant when they do their taxes because now that their status as a couple has legally changed, filling out state and federal tax forms will be more complicated.

But the Brookfield couple went into their civil union fully understanding the implications.

Under their new status, if the couple wants to divorce, they will have to hire divorce lawyers and go through the same process a married couple would.

"We can't just say 'See ya.' It's all the same process," Robinson said.

The two women met at a former Brookfield restaurant called Capers about six years ago. Robinson was a waitress there and D'Imperio, 38, a customer.

Their relationship is just as solid as it was before the civil union, Robinson said: "As far as relationship-wise, it doesn't really make a difference."

When it comes to financial matters, like health insurance, however, there is a big difference. If one of them loses her job - and her health insurance - then they will be able to go on the other's plan, Robinson said.

"There is a sense of security I didn't have before," D'Imperio said. "There's a sense of responsibility and security in the legal sense. You just can't walk out."

RIDGEFIELD - Maybe the driver of the SUV saw the oncoming tanker truck before pulling into Route 7 traffic. The details of that moment are unknown, but the decision to continue onto the highway was fateful, because the SUV caused the tanker, carrying 8,800 gallons of gasoline, to swerve, overturn, and explode. The truck driver,
Ricky L. Butler
of New Haven, was killed and Route 7 was closed in both directions for nearly four days in mid-July as emergency crews worked frantically to rebuild a small bridge north of Simpaug Turnpike that was basically melted.

Police searched for weeks for the driver of the SUV, which was described as small and white - to no avail.

"The investigating officers went everywhere they could figure out to try and find it," a police department spokesman said last week. "But it was never found and the case was closed."

To mark the opening of the roadway, state and local officials visited the crash site during the morning commute. And U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced that $3 million in federal emergency relief funds would be given to Connecticut for cleanup and repair costs.

After touring the site, U.S. Rep Christopher Shays, R-4th Dist, one of seven members of Connecticut's congressional delegation who requested federal aid, said the state would receive "whatever it takes" to restore what he and his colleagues described as "a critical link" between interstates 95 and 84.

"This is a perfect example of how government entities can work together," said Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi. "Ridgefield thanks everyone for their help."

It was estimated that 300 tons of contaminated soil from areas beneath and around the bridge were removed for incineration, and early cleanup operations were frustrated by gasoline vapors that remained in the area.

Along with the charred forest on the roadside that was torched by the accident's huge fireball, there was one other poignant reminder of the tragedy.

A small basket of fresh flowers, left on an upturned metal drum in tribute to the dead tanker driver, bore an unsigned card that read: "You left us way too early Ricky. Rest easy."

In 2003, the campaign to bring the full spectrum of heart care to Danbury Hospital was just that: a campaign, full of letter-writing, petition-signing and the hard, complicated work of filing applications

In 2004, it was a victory. The state Department of Health Care Access allowed Danbury Hospital to offer both open heart surgery and angioplasty to its patients - services that had been confined to six urban hospitals and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

In 2005, the new era of health care in and around Danbury really began. In January, the hospital began to offer open heart surgery. In October, it began to offer angioplasty, the non-invasive opening of blocked arteries through the use of catheters.

The results are these: in 2005 the hospital has performed 160 open-heart procedures and 100 angioplasties.

"This will be something that truly affect everyone in the region," said Dr.
Andrew Keller
, the hospital's chief of cardiology. "Overnight, it's made a huge difference."

The new era will also dawn - albeit on a more limited basis - in New Milford in the coming year. In 2004, New Milford Hospital gained state permission to offer emergency angioplasty, once it had successfully established a cardiac catheterization program. The hospital, having done that throughout 2005, plans to offer emergency angioplasty in 2006.

At Danbury Hospital, about half of the angioplasties have been elective procedures, something doctors could plan at least a few days ahead for. The other half, Keller said, were "unstable coronary events," including heart attacks, that needed emergency care.

For the hospital's patients, this has been a big improvement because it cuts out the ambulance ride to New Haven or Bridgeport and the sooner a patient with a heart attack gets care, the greater the chance of surviving it. It also mean patients' families don't have to make the long trek south each day to visit.

Keller said having a full range of cardiac care will be felt throughout western Connecticut and even into the neighboring towns across the border in New York, which were also in need of a nearby hospital that offered a full range of cardiac care.

"This program will have a huge impact on people who don't even know about it," Keller said. "They haven't had their heart attack yet. When they do, we'll be there."

No. 9

Two local soldiers, John Schmidt of Brookfield and Steve Reich of Wasshington, killed in the war against terror.

Steve Reich, the 34-year-old Washington, Conn., man who was killed on June 28 commanding a U.S. Army special operations unit in Afghanistan, left more than cherished memories within the hearts and minds of his family and friends.

His death aroused so much emotion in other parts of the nation that close to 1,500 people, including hundreds of strangers, sent his parents messages of sympathy and thousands of dollars to help perpetuate his memory.

Reich and 15 others died when their helicopter was shot down along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border during a rescue mission for a team of Navy SEALs.

This year, memorials are planned on four fronts in tribute to one of Washington's best known sons.

At Shepaug Valley High School, where Reich was a star baseball pitcher in the late 1980s, an annual student award has been set up in his name. The committee that organized the award is headed by Scott Werkhoven, one of Reich's classmates who now teaches and is head baseball coach at Shepaug.

Instead of being based on a student's athletic performance, Reich's family said the award will recognize character, leadership, achievement and service.

Another committee, headed by classmate Michael Condon, has reactivated a former town award in Reich's name that selects a local resident as Citizen of the Year.

The third project involves rebuilding a bridge across the Shepaug River at the Steep Rock Preserve and constructing a memorial bench including a stone from the family property.

At the United States Military Academy at West Point, Reich's alma mater, the team room at Doubleday Field will be rededicated in Reich's name.

Family members say they hope all four projects will be completed by July 4 next year.

"I think these memorials will be comforting not only to the family but to all the friends, teammates and associates who knew Steve," said Sue Reich, his mother. "We wanted to do something to keep his memory alive. There are many people who've had difficulty resolving his death."

For the Reich family, Christmas posed its challenges.

"It was difficult, but we planned carrying on the family tradition and we did," said Sue Reich. "We felt strongly that it needed to be done."

Reich was the second area man to die on active duty in 2005.

Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III of Brookfield, who had been injured in Iraq, died in May after an ammonia tank near where he was sleeping exploded.

No. 10

Beloved local football coach Steve Kaplanis dies

DANBURY - Before every offensive snap during the past season, Matt Westervelt would glance at the black band encircling his wrist and remember what he and his Immaculate High School teammates had been through, and what they were playing for.

When the play proved successful, resulting in a score, a long gain, or a key first down, the junior quarterback said he sometimes found himself thinking, "Coach Kap would have loved that if he was here."

For the first time in nine seasons,
Stephen Kaplanis
, "Coach Kap," wasn't on the sidelines when the Mustangs took the field. The legendary local football coach died at his home on May 24 after a heart attack.

He was 50 years old and left a wife and two children.

But in many ways, Kaplanis, who took over as Immaculate's head coach in 1997, was still a part of the program, his successor,
Sean Mahon
, said.

"I learned a lot about how to coach and manage a team from him," Mahon said. "He was a great teacher and taught a lot of people a lot of things."

In two decades prior to taking over the varsity program, Kaplanis, a lifelong Danbury resident, had turned the Danbury Trojans midget team into a powerhouse, amassing a record of 200 wins and nine losses, including two national championships.

During his eight seasons at Immaculate, the Mustangs qualified for the state Class S playoffs six times.

He was also active in other youth sports, helping found the Danbury Athletic Youth Organization in 1978. His funeral service at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, where he was involved in many parish activities, drew a standing-room only crowd, many of them young people whose lives he'd touched as a coach.

The Mustangs finished 2-8 this past fall, beating New Milford and Weston.

"Obviously, our season didn't turn out the way we hoped," said Westervelt, one of a dozen players who will return as seniors next year.

But injuries and inexperience were the primary reasons for the disappointing showing.

The team showed improvement as the season progressed, and except for a blowout loss against a powerful Notre Dame squad in the finale, the Mustangs were competitive in every game, Mahon said.

"In football, you do anything you can to motivate the kids, but we didn't give any 'Win one for Coach Kap' speeches," Mahon said. "We just told them to do their best."